Iraq

PHOTO: Ezra Millstein/Mercy Corps

The context

Mercy Corps has been working in Iraq since 2003. The road to a new Iraq is fraught with challenges and citizens struggle to survive against a backdrop of political dysfunction, infighting, extremism and potential of civil war. Hundreds of thousands have fled the most violent areas and are seeking safety elsewhere. The ongoing conflict in neighboring Syria continues to drive Syrian refugees across the border into camps and urban settlements.

The country's precarious development is stressed by the needs of displaced people and refugees. Basic services have been disrupted, and water is in short supply. Large communities of internally-displaced families already lack water, shelter and proper hygiene facilities, and many are struggling to build peaceful relationships and make lives in their new communities.

More than 200,000 Mosul residents have been displaced since fighting in the city began — 50,000 of them are newly displaced after recent armed attacks in February 2017. Mercy Corps is responding to the urgent needs of more than 80,000 of the 217,000 people who fled Mosul in the fall of 2016 and we are preparing to expand our work as needed. Learn more about the humanitarian crisis in Mosul ▸

Country details

Population (2015 est.): 35.9 million

UN Human Development Index rank: 121 (out of 188)

Mercy Corps has worked here since 2003

Match the Magic

Mercy Corps and Starbucks are uniting this holiday season to build safer, stronger communities. Make a tax-deductible gift today and The Starbucks Foundation will match it dollar-for-dollar, up to a total of £60,000

Support our work

We would like to keep you up-to-date with our progress and fundraising activities. We will process your data for analysis and marketing purposes. We will never sell your details and you can opt out at any time.